Chapter 18 Royal annoyances.

  We retired that day, much as before. Then Marie and I left Having decided to run all out, rather than waste time, so as to be able to change prior to our audience. With no annoying bandit attacks, it was less than a day to arrive at the capitol’s main gate. We kept the lowest profile we could as we went to the nearest inn. More expensive than we’d like, but at least they had baths. We spent a less than enjoyable night without the others, and not being comfortable making too much noise in an Inn.

  Once we arrived at the Palace gates, dressed in our finery, I held the summons up as we approached the gate. “Get out of here Peasant!” Shouted one of the guards, and he attacked me. I slammed him into the wall before he knew what was happening. “Are you perhaps a Blind Fool?! Attacking someone with a ROYAL SUMMONS! In Sight of other Guards?!” I smiled as he squirmed dangling from his neck. “I THINK, you should probably strip this man of his armor, and confine him, until he can be properly disciplined by your Commander. I expect even if he’s here right now, he won’t have the time to properly deal with him for some time. Paperwork is undoubtedly piled up.” The commander barked a laugh as he had indeed been near. “Too right I am swamped with Paperwork, HE can wait.” With a Snap of his Fingers, the other Guards took him away, and filled in his spot. “I must ask to verify your Summons, despite this unpleasantness.” I showed him the scroll, and he touched it with a finger. It flashed green momentarily, and he removed the finger. “My thanks, verification is protocol, NOT attacking, assuming it’s faked.” His glare could strip steel. I smirked.

  We walked through the Palace halls lead by a Butler, and entered a small room. “If you will please wait here, until you are called. There is Tea, and some light foods available, please help yourself.” Waiting was irritating. I wasn’t so much nervous, and just plain annoyed. Finally we were lead into the Court. “Adventurer Mark, and his companion Adventurer Marie!” The announcement was just like I had expected from movies in my past life. I kept my eye on a seneschal standing on my left. He noticed my gaze, and understood I was watching for a Cue as to when to stop walking. He slightly raised his hand at the right moment, and I stopped walking, and gave a proper bow, with Marie a step behind me and to the right. “As decreed, we have arrived.” I said no more, making it plain with my simple statement that I did NOT want to be there. “Raise your heads. We understand that you have acquired S rank, at such a young age, and further that the Capitol’s Guild Master suggested you to be tested for Multi S rank. Yet you did not come to us, why is that?”

  I gritted my teeth for a moment. Taking a deep breath, I answered. “Your Majesty, I am satisfied with my current situation, in fact, my S rank test was forced upon me, I had no intention of gaining true S rank status, as I had local S rank Status in my own town. I tend to have plenty of opportunities to use my skills as it is. Beyond that, I have my own land to tend, and many projects to manage. Further, I have no desire for Noble Titles.” The gathered nobles were stunned, now instead of an upstart taking what he didn’t deserve, they saw a victim being put upon by those who should leave well enough alone. “Additionally, I had requested the Capitol Guild Master to keep my business private. NOBODY was meant to inform you.” Gasps could be heard at that. At the side of the hall, I saw the Guild master in question flinch. “IS THIS TRUE?!” The King glared daggers at the man. “Yes your Majesty, but clearly he’s worthy of so much more!” The Man simpered like a dog that thought he could avoid a punishment. “Because of your meddling, I have written a decree to test this man, AND make him a Noble, even assigning two towns into his control, yet HE never wanted any of this! I was vexed that he did not come immediately, but now I understand he had left as quickly as possible to AVOID this very scene. Now you have vexed us both! My decree is Final, I must give him the Test, and he must take the title which he does not want.”

  The King snapped his fingers, and two guards took the guild master out of the court. “If the man wasn’t good at his job under normal circumstances, I’d strip him of the position for that. Come you two, let’s dispense with any pageantry from now on. We’ll do the test, and give you your Title,…why does she have two rings on one finger? They look entwined somehow.” I cleared my throat. “Marie is one of my Wives, and those rings are a symbol of that fact.” A gasp went through the crowd. “One of your wives, so you have two then?” I laughed. “Apologies your Majesty, but I found that rather comical since the truth is rather more ridiculous. Marie is one of currently eleven wives. They intend to acquire more for me if the right candidates show up.” More gasps amongst the nobles, and a raised eyebrow from the King. “Oh, and what would constitute a good candidate?” Marie answered that. “If it pleases your Majesty, we want to find a Fox Girl, I think an Elf would be nice, we have a Gnome already, so maybe a Dwarf, oh, and a Harpy, I think they’re cute!” Now the King was outright stunned at that. Then a smile. “Well, then as compensation, at least for your wives sake, maybe my third daughter, she happens to be a Fox Girl herself. It would please me to let her live a quiet life out in the country with plenty of chances to raise a child. Wasn’t there something about an Orphanage?”

  “Yes your Majesty, I adopted all the girls from a particular Orphanage which is now being renovated, so even the boys are currently in my house. I love them all, but it’s a madhouse at present. However, as much as I like the idea, it’s up to the women involved, and though I can be certain that my wives all approve already, as Marie can vouch. However, I need her clear, willing consent to the idea, without any pressure being placed upon her.” A fox girl with a thin golden circlet came out from a side room, without anyone having called out to her. “As I have heard this conversation with my own, rather too sensitive ears, I’ll admit I was Vexed when father just offered me like that, but you, that’s the nicest thing I’ve ever heard. You like the idea, but want me willing or not at all?” I nodded once. “Exactly so, also if you can hear what I’m about to whisper, it’s all true.” I then whispered under my breath how bleeding only happens the first time, and that I would take her as many times as she wanted. She looked wide eyed at Marie, who smirked, and nodded guessing what I had told her. “YES, a Million times Yes. I don’t care if you have a title or not, take me away!” The noble chatter was even more intense now. “Truly, my daughter is this happy with the notion, excellent! Now off to deal with the stupid test. At least it’s simple., all you need do, is place your hands upon this stone. It will read your power, and state what rank your power qualifies as.” With a Shrug, first I, then Marie placed our hands on the stone. It read clearly my class, Martial Artist, and not three, but four S across the stone. Marie read Ranger, obtaining even more gasps, and a few pale faces, and her own two S rating.

  “Marvelous, Four S on your status, that’s never been heard of in the Kingdom, or even on this continent. Then to see an honest Ranger in my halls, and to have my daughter married into the same household,…what about my other daughters, would you take them too?” I shook my head, as did Marie, and the Fox girl was fiercely shaking her head as well, with a bristling tail. “No your Majesty, I don’t take siblings, as the bloodlines would be too close, and potentially lead to breeding between too close family members, without knowing, and THAT leads to birth defects.” Stunned silence rippled through the hall. “Birth defects because the parents are too closely related? Is this true?” I nodded. “Some birth defects can happen no matter what, but the big ones, are typically caused because brothers breed with sisters, or fathers and their own daughters, which could happen, if the Father didn’t raise the daughter, and met her thinking she was not his own. It might be rare to happen, but is CAN happen. Either way, I won’t risk my children who are yet to even be born.” The King nodded at that. “Sensible, I can accept that, and will ensure that each of my remaining daughters gets their own husbands, rather than sharing one. Very well, no need for the ceremony I think, here’s your writ of office. Then both of you have the title of Knight in your own rights, though Marie does not have any land of her own to take charge of. I think I shall not keep you any longer, you should tend to your new wife to be, and collect what things she wishes to take.” “One question your Majesty.” He looked at me. “Speak.” “May I know the name of this newest, and precious wife of mine?” He laughed, and she giggled. “Well asked! May I introduce my third daughter, princess Alian. May you two be very happy together.” I reached out to shake his hand, surprising him, but he grasped my hand, and felt the paper I had tucked into my palm. He returned to his seat, and just before I had left the room, I heard him call out. “Is this true?!” I grinned, and nodded. “My wives will bless you for years to come for informing me of this.” The three of us left the court, and moved to the Princess personal rooms.

  Alian looked around her chambers, and focused on her book shelf. “I suppose I’ll have to leave those behind, honestly those books are all I think I want. My gowns, will be useless outside the Capitol, I’d be better wearing my riding close I expect, and buying something,…more normal when we get to our towns.” I went over to her book shelf, and willed them all into my storage. She gasped at the sight. “What happened?!” Marie giggled. “Sister, he can store much in a different space, and nobody can steal from it. I don’t know how he does it, but it’s very useful to gather our prey.” She looked at Marie, then back to me, then Marie again. She lunged at me, and kissed my cheek. “This is amazing, I can teach our children to read with those! To think, Children, not Child. This is going to change so much. I expect that was what you wrote on that paper you gave father.” I nodded again. We heard happy squeals from a distant room. “I think the queens just found out.” We all giggled at this. “I think I’ll change into my riding clothes. Marie can you help me with my gown, normally the servants would do that, but I’d rather not call one, I’d only have to say goodbye to her afterwards.” I started to turn away, only for Alian to grab my arm, and look fiercely at me. “My husband shouldn’t turn from my body, now should he?” I snapped my finger, and produced her silver ring, and slipped it on her finger. She beamed at me, and took my lips for a quick peck.

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  The girls didn’t waste time getting her undressed, and Alian was easily able to dress herself in the riding clothes, though she was a little clumsy due to lack of practice. No sooner had she finished dressing again, than an older fox woman came in, smiling fit to burst. Instead of embracing her daughter as I had expected, she instead embraced me. “Thank you son, not only for telling my husband about this startling truth, but for taking my baby, over all the rest. Also for refusing to take her siblings, they’re good girls, but they always teased Alian. I know you had better reasons, but that reason is what truly counts for me. Take care of my girl, and I want to hear about a grandchild within the year, then you can take a break for a couple years if you need to.” I laughed. “Well your Grace, I’ll take a break from making children for a couple years, but not from your daughter. Once she heals from giving birth, maybe three months at the outside, and she’s allowed to be active again. I have a perk though, that makes it impossible to make her Pregnant on accident, but makes it certain when we want a child. No accidents.” Both of them were standing jaws agape, and Alian turned to Marie to see her nodding. “It’s true, and his Father already impregnated his second wife, the local guild master as it happens. He was surprised to have Sexual Technique level up as I recall. Then Mark told him what HIS sexual technique is. It’s a family secret how, but he has level fifty. That’s where those perks came from.”

  “Does that effect how it feels?” Marie nodded her head. “Rose is the only one of use who got to experience the difference, but she said the second time was MUCH better.” The queen was shaking her head. “I thought my King Husband had a high level in that, at level five, but that’s with all of the queens. It takes a LOT of women to make certain of an heir,…at least it did, before your information that is. The Princes will have a much easier time producing heirs, and having more fun too.” The queen hugged her daughter. “You should all leave as soon as you can, otherwise you’ll be swarmed with nosey nobles trying to drag you into the politics.” We nodded and made to leave. “I love you Mother, and I’ll miss you. I hope you can come to visit sometime.” The queen smiled at her. It was a look that clearly said, she couldn’t do what they both wanted. She was stuck in the palace, while her daughter was allowed to escape.

  The queen’s insight proved correct, as we had barely gotten out of sight of the room’s door, when we overheard a group of Nobles arguing about who gets to talk with us first. We sped up our walk, and managed to just slip past the gates of the palace without anyone cornering us. Once we returned to our Inn room, we change back into our normal gear, and then returned the room key, and paid a few extra coins. Once we were well out of the main gates, I picked up Alian, and Marie and I started sprinting. Alian squeaked in surprise, then had a wide smile at how fast we were running. She shouted in my ear, “I don’t think anyone will be able to catch us, if you can keep this up for even a few minutes.” I grinned, and sped up more, with Marie a step behind. We managed to reach the first of our towns well before dark, and as much as I wanted to ignore it, we went to the Mayor’s house. We were greeted by a rather old gentlemen.

  His old eyes bulged when he saw the writ of office. “Sir, I don’t understand, what does this mean?” I sighed. “It means, we’re both screwed. Tonight, all you need to do, is find us a bed, tomorrow we’re going to the other town I am now in charge of, the next one south. I’m counting on you to keep doing what you’ve been doing for as long as you can manage. Tell me when you need help though. I don’t know how else I’m supposed to manage two towns, when I can’t be in both at once. If you have a homing pigeon or something for me to take, so I can communicate with you, and you with me, then I can literally run here in less than two hours, providing I can break away.” I could see the relief on his face, knowing I’m not expecting him to leave his only home. “I can do that sir, here is a stone of message, I have the link. Should I need aide, I’ll inform you though that. As to a room for the night, I have plenty, there are extra rooms for visiting dignitaries, though I’ve never needed them. I’ll assign one for you, whenever you need to stay over night. It will be kept clean, and fresh for you.” His maid came in, and after getting instructions, she bowed to us, and led us to a room. We simply slept that night, though the girls both clung to me.

  The surprise on the Guild Master’s face the next day, when Marie and I walked in, with Alian in tow was priceless. “Mark, how is the third Princess here?…OH, I see the silver ring. Why am I not surprised?!” She had a grin on her face, but she was clearly proud to have me as a Son now. Pearson though started at the word Son. “Did, ahem, I could have sworn you just said Son Guild Master, and third Princess?” “Indeed sir, I am third Princess Alian, and most recent wife of Mark here, and that’s Sir Mark now, he and Marie have been knighted after all. Not that they, or even I really care.” She giggled at that, and Pearson paled. “Your Highness, I apologize for my rudeness.” Alian giggled. “What rudeness, ignorance isn’t rude.” Pearson excused himself. “I have all your materials ordered, but no work has started yet, that will be tomorrow most likely.” I thanked her, and gave her a quick hug, as did Marie, and a little more hesitantly Alian. “Welcome Home Alian, and welcome to the family.” Alian shyly smiled, as we left the office, and the Guild hall. I then went to the Mayor’s mansion. I chuckled a bit to myself. “Rather a splendid mansion for such a remote area.” Alian commented, and I burst out laughing. “What’s so funny?!” Alian asked with a pout. “Alian, the house Mark had built is MASSIVE! It makes this place look like a popper’s hovel. It’s not fancy, but it’s plenty large.” Alian’s eyes widened. “Truly?” Marie and I nodded. “I laughed, because I had just thought how funny it was that my house was bigger, before I became the Mayor myself.” The two women smirked at that. “Honestly it was just the timing that made me laugh so loud.”

  The mayor looked horrible as he was basically drug in by his Butler. Clearly he wasn’t taking care of himself. “Mark, and Marie too, I can’t apologize enough for what Jarreth did, but still he was my Son. I’m afraid I just don’t know how to deal with the situation anymore. I only ever married his mother, and the thought of trying to find more wives just to try and get an heir, well, I’m comfortable with my wife,…I just wish, but then you didn’t come here to listen to an old man, what brings you here?” He only then noticed Alian, and his eyes widened. “First, you don’t actually need an heir anymore. You and your wife’s positions in this house are secure, as I have been named Mayor by his Majesty the King, upon being knighted. I’ve also been named Mayor of the town to the North, I’ll have to give the towns names, otherwise it will be confusing. We’ll think on that later. Also, if you want more children, your current wife is all you need. The blood and pain only happens the first time, it’s all fun and games afterward, and more children will come in time, like it or not. As you see, Princess Alian is here, and as evident by her silver ring, she is my betrothed, and will be officially my wife very soon, probably tonight, unless we’re just too busy, and fall asleep instead, but I doubt any of my wives will allow that.” He looked at Marie, seeing the gold band, and Alian only having the silver, then back to Marie. “Is everything he just said true?” She nodded with a big grin. “Love your Wife, and be true to her, if that’s what makes you happy. Make more kids, you’ve got a Knight as their God Parent if you want it. Also, though I’m not landed myself, I’ve also been knighted. Doesn’t matter to us though, just act normal otherwise. If you need some more personal time, let us know, we’ll get assistants for the day to day work so it’s more convenient, and besides, it’s Mark that needs to sign papers now.” I groaned. “Paperwork, I forgot about the damned paperwork!” A genuine smile, if faint crossed the man’s lips. “Is that a message stone? Let me link mine to it, so I can message you as well.” I proffered the device, and a moment later he had returned it. “Should I need you urgently I’ll message you, otherwise, if you could visit once a month, I can manage the rest I think. I’ll be fine now, you’ve lightened this old man’s burdens greatly. I think my wife will be pleasantly surprised tonight.” He chuckled, as we excused ourselves.

  We then made our way home, to a stampede of both wives, and children to the utter astonishment of Alian, all the children instantly started hugging her, and excitedly talking about anything and everything. She laughed merrily at the horde of little love bundles that had swarmed her. “Husband, who are all these angels?” I smiled. “Your children, even if by adoption. Well not the boys, but still, may as well be, since as Mayor of the town their Orphanage is in, I’m their ultimate guardian anyway, and you are a Princess of this nation, so yeah, even the Boys can be considered your children in a way.” She then started fiercely hugging every child she could catch, and they giggled and squirmed in happiness at the attention. All the wives showed up, aside from the Undines, and as typical, one was holding a nearly naked, wet, and squirming Katy in her arms, who only stopped squirming when she saw me, then an instant later she was squirming again, trying to reach me. Theresa let her down, and the quickly slammed into me as I spread my arms for her attack of affection, which triggered a wave of little huggers from all sides. Marie didn’t get left out either. “I missed you! Why were you gone so long?” Katy was accusatory. “Couldn’t be helped little one, adults have to do things they don’t want to sometimes, and this was one of them for Marie and I.”

  I started thinking in my head about how I could build an indoor, filtered, and heated swimming pool for Katy, and those who were interested. Filtering itself wasn’t much of an issue, but moving the water through the filter, in the absence of traditional pumps, and heating it were the issue. Maybe one of the books Alian had would give me some inspiration. The water wheel’s constant spinning caught my attention, and I almost face palmed, that could easily power a water pump, and setup the filter in a tower. Pump the water up, filter it, and let gravity return it into the pool. Two problems solved already, only the heating aspect to deal with now.

  Eventually the tide of affection died down, and everyone went about their business. Either playing, or doing chores they had either chosen to take on, or been assigned. All the older children had taken to the notion of working to learn for their futures, so they would have choices. Marina had a decent folowing of future smiths already, and Harmony had many a Clay worker. She had even glazed some bricks, which she was simultaneously proud, and ashamed of, thinking there would be no use for them. I on the other hand, was thinking about the Pool I now wanted to build. Those bricks would be perfect to line the pool, and I knew how t seal them once in place too. Looked like more sketching was in my immediate future.